ADAM Brookes turned in one of the outstanding all-round performances of the season but still finished on the losing side as Tewkesbury 2nds were edged out by three runs away to leaders Fairford in Division Three of the AMS Gloucestershire County League.
Brookes got his day off to a superb start with memorable figures of 6-7 from eight overs (five maidens) with the new ball, reducing Fairford to 31-6 before the home side recovered to post 155-9 from their 40.
Opener Jay Goddard dug in for a valuable 67 from 105 while the only other batter to reach double figures was Harvey New (25).
Brookes then did his best to get his side over the line with the bat, compiling 53 off 84 before being run out. And that dismissal opened the door for Fairford to turn the screw as the visitors folded from 134-4 to 152 all out, Jon Welch tidying up with figures of 3-16.
Cheltenham 2nds are off the bottom of Division One following a three-wicket win away to fellow strugglers Thornbury 2nds, Mohammed Rahman the hero with an unbeaten 105 off 77 (14 fours, two sixes).
Lydney, determined to bounce straight back to the top flight after last summer’s relegation, breezed past nearest rivals Redmarley by 48 runs to establish a 47-run lead at the top of Division Two.
Paul Newbery captured 5-29 as Lydney were restricted to 202-9 before three wickets apiece from Alex Antoine and Jordan Stone wrapped up the points.
Langford are back up to second thanks to a six-wicket home success over Newent, Jack Romanek taking 3-21 from seven.
At the other end of the table, Gloucester AIW Sports are out of the bottom two following a 13-run home defeat of Cinderford St John, Ummer Jabbar taking 4-23 from eight.
Jarrod Campling’s haul of 6-23 from seven saw Chipping Sodbury 2nds to a 190-run victory over bottom side Oldlands in Division Four where leaders Cricklade powered on with a 112-run home defeat of Corse & Staunton 2nds, Angelo Rigali finishing with 4-22.
Captain Ivor Griffiths and Dom Jones, meanwhile, shared a third successive 100-plus partnership for Churchdown who dispatched Sheepscombe by nine wickets.
Unbeaten leaders Quedgeley & Hardwicke cruised past Upton St Leonards by 175 runs in Division Six where Parkend closed in on the runners-up slot with a six-wicket home defeat of Chedworth, Sam Haddock starring with a return of 4-18.
Captain Murali Ramachandran’s 62 helped Division Seven leaders Arcadians Nine Elms dispatch Ruardean Hill by four wickets while Sunith Bose hit an unbeaten 71 and bagged 3-29 in Tormarton’s 103-run home triumph against Painswick 2nds.
Image courtesy Mike Starling